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Due to the sliding nature of the keyboard, the Smartphone Experts Snap On Case for Palm Pre comes in two pieces that snap into place on the Pre. It’s constructed of hard plastic and it’s relatively sturdy. The two pieces, while bendable, seem as though they would be difficult to snap in two. This is important should you drop your Pre, I don’t get the feeling this particular case would shatter into pieces.
The Palm Pixi represents the second webOS device from Palm and what many proclaim as the successor to the companies Centro line of smartphones. It’s geared for young professionals who are shopping for their first smartphone or perhaps looking for a phone that won’t break the bank. Given it’s aging OS, the Centro was surprisingly popular. To Palm’s credit, the Centro was more capable than a feature phone, came in a variety of fun colors and was priced right. For smartphone buyers shopping the sub-$100 market, it’s gotten crowded with the iPhone 3G, Droid Eris and an assortment of BlackBerry devices. In addition, Palm’s flagship webOS powered Palm Pre can be had for $99 at Amazon. Unlike the Centro before it, the Palm Pixi enters a crowded field.
The Palm Pixi just hit our doorstep today, so we present to you our requisite Palm Pixi unboxing. For your viewing pleasure, a quick tour around the Palm Pixi and some comparisons with the Palm Pre. If you have any specific Palm Pixi questions, feel free to hit us up in the forums. Stay tuned for our complete review.
Editor’s note: If you click through to YouTube, this can be viewed in HD.
The first Palm Pixi review has surfaced today over at PhoneArena. Their review unit is running webOS 1.3.1, which apparently does not ship with the device, but is available as a software update. Palm Pre owners will see 1.3.1, but the update is not currently available.
Interesting that iTunes does not work with webOS 1.3.1 on the Pixi. Other highlights from PhoneArena:
Camera: The results were pretty poor: color saturation was too exaggerated, details were extremely blurry and the camera was only usable in good lighting conditions, despite the LED flash. Pre was by no means a standout, but it was acceptable. Pixi’s camera is a disappointment. Video capture is still not available.
Facebook: When the Palm Pixi was announced it mentioned a native Facebook client, but thus far there is none. Included software is identical and includes Sprint apps like Navigation, NFL and NASCAR clients, as well as Office and PDF readers.
Overall: The Pixi is a great compliment to the Pre and a worthy second entry into the webOS lineup. Its size and feel is just wonderful and we think that many people would pick the Palm Pixi over the Pre because of this, even at the same price.
If you are considering the Palm Pixi, we’d encourage you to check out their full review.
Palm and Sprint in their midnight announcement of the Palm Pixi let us know that the device would be available in time for the holidays. According to BGR, the launch date is set for October 20th, which would be a Tuesday. No word yet on pricing from either official or unofficial sources.
With prices dropping on the Palm Pre, one has to wonder where the entry-level webOS device will be slotted from a price perspective. If the device does drop on October 20th, perhaps that means Pre owners will get the native Facebook app along with a few new Synergy options. Check out our Palm Pixi Hands-On Preview or the abundance of eye candy that is our Palm Pixi Photo Gallery for more information.
[via BGR]
During Fashion Week, we met with Palm to get a first hand look at the new Palm Pixi, scheduled to grace the shelves of Sprint sometime before the holidays. We hope to get a device in for testing and a full review before it’s released, but here are our first impressions based on our hands-on with Palm’s second webOS device — the Palm Pixi.
Now that the Palm Pre has been out for a few months, more and more cases are becoming available for the device. The slider form factor represents a challenge not only for case manufacturers, but for Palm Pre owners looking to protect their phone. The folks at Seidio took on the challenge with their InnoCase Surface for Palm Pre.
The InnoCase from Seidio doesn’t ship with any fancy packaging, outside an insert with directions on how to install the InnoCase Surface on the Palm Pre. Truth be told, I rarely if ever read directions first, especially when dealing with a case. However, for the purpose of this review, I glanced over the directions after using the InnoCase for some time. What I thought was simply package filler, was what Seidio terms a “spacer”. I don’t see the need for a spacer, but this is more than likely a scratch preventer. With the “spacer” in place, you should note that the Seidio InnoCase will not work with the Touchstone charger.
Installation is easy enough. Slide open the Palm Pre and the pieces will snap into place. All major ports are accessible with the case installed. If you’ll note the sides of the case, it almost appears as if they should attach. Of course, reality sets in that if they attached, you wouldn’t be able to open your phone. Still, it does make the case appear as if it doesn’t fit correctly.
In actuality, I was very pleased with the fit of the InnoCase Surface. There aren’t any noticeable gaps between the screen the Pre itself. Additionally, the InnoCase felt secure on the Pre, with no wiggle at all. I tend to open the slider by pressing on the side of the screen and other thumb on the bottom left by the microphone. Both are pressing on the case. I didn’t experience any issues with the case becoming loose or detaching. From the point it was snapped on, the InnoCase Surface stayed in place.
This particular case comes in a variety of colors. You’ll notice Blue was used for this review. The case does not add much bulk to the Pre and definitely nothing that most would notice. The slim form factor is retained and you have the added comfort of protecting your Palm Pre. The case doesn’t include any sort of protection for the screen, something that I would recommend if moving from a case that doesn’t protect the screen.
The case has a rubberized finish that feels good in the hand. Definitely easier to get a grip on the Palm Pre with the InnoCase Surface. While I didn’t deliberately attempt to scratch the case, I would guess that it’s not very susceptible to scratches due to the rubberized nature of the material used. That being said, put this in a pocket with keys and you’re not going to be happy with the end result. The company has the logo embossed on the back, which is acceptable. The product code seems to take away from the look of the case and seems unnecessary. Couldn’t they have put this on the interior of the case?
This case comes with options. Seidio offers a holster that is sized for the Palm Pre with the InnoCase Surface. As I noted before, the case isn’t very thick, but the manufacturer’s holster accommodates for the case. While the two part equation is great for business professionals who want quick access, while protecting their investment, it would make sense to offer up a screen protector.
Pros:
Cons:
Conclusion: The Seidio InnoCase is a solid option for those looking for a form fitting case that offers protection against scratches while retaining the thin design and good looks of the Palm Pre. The Seidio InnoCase retails for $29.95 and is available at the Everything Pre Store.
A few months back, we asked our readers to submit their Palm Pre Reviews and did they ever. We received almost 100 reviews and our readers did a fantastic job offering up their opinions and rating of the Palm Pre. The sheer volume of reviews did take us by surprise, so our apologies for the late announcement as to the winners. Thank you to everyone who participated and made our Palm Pre Review section the single best resource for consumers looking for honest, thoughtful reviews of the Palm Pre.
Congratulations to dlunceford and Linh who stood out amongst the crowd. Both have won a Palm Touchstone charging kit!